IN reference to your news item (Chronicle Jul 13) “Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Pan not only indigenous creation of Trinidad.” in response to a speech by President Max Richards, the PM stated that unity is also a creation of TT. Some people I spoke with in Trinidad stated that chutney music is also a creation of Trinidad as well as the unique beat of the tassa drum and the introduction of “doubles” (two large bara with channa in between) or an off shoot of channa batura (in India). Doubles have been introduced in Guyana and other societies just like pan.  No other society had doubles until recently. Indian Tassa is very popular in Canada and the U.S just like pan is to Africans and others.  No Hindu wedding is without (and even some Islamic and Christian weddings in the U.S. also has) tassa.
The PM had also suggested after the President gave his speech to open the third sitting of Parliament that there is no bar to President Max Richards serving a third term.  However, a poll I conducted in Trinidad found very little support for Richards serving an unprecedented third term. Queried whether President Max Richards should be given an unprecedented third term, only 12% answered in the affirmative. The findings were obtained from interviews of 625 people.
Asked who they would like to see become President, Basdeo Panday leads (with support coming mainly from UNC supporters) with 26%, followed by former Attorney- General Karl Hudson Phillips (20%), former Chief Justice Sat Sharma (15%), Chairman of Integrity Commission Ken Gordon (12%), Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran (7%), and former Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams (4%).  Some other names mentioned for the Presidency are UWI Principal Clement Sankat, House Speaker Wade Mark, Deputy Chair of COP Vernon de Lima, former Senator Patrick Watson, former Chief Justice Michael de la Bastide, and Senate President Timothy Hamel Smith.
Government supporters expressed a concern that the ruling partnership will not be able to retain the Tunapuna seat in a by-election should Dookeran resign his seat to seek the Presidency. Many respondents feel it is time for a female President and express the idea that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar should give consideration to becoming the next President.
Queried on what they see as the most serious issues facing the country, almost everyone said crime, followed by the economy (lack of growth and rising inflation) and corruption. People also expressed concerns about flooding, traffic woes, inadequate housing, and poor governance.
Asked if they approve of the government’s appointment of Jwala Rambarran as Central Bank Governor, 53% give their nod with 32% (primarily PNM supporters) saying no.  Many respondents, however, said they would have preferred Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir as Governor. However, supporters of the government feel that Rambarran, along with Ministers Larry Howai and Vasant Bharrat, will succeed in jumpstarting the economy.
Asked if they approve of the appointment of Jack Warner as Minister of National Security, 59% said yes with 27% saying no. Respondents overwhelmingly are of the view that if anyone can successfully lower crime it is Jack.